Shemekia Copeland (#702)

Airs ...

From the softest whisper to a growling, full-throated blues roar, vocalist
Shemekia Copeland boasts a dynamic range and a vibrant personality that together have the music world hailing her as a diva in the making. Her Jubilee performance captures the impressive qualities that led the Boston Globe to proclaim, She roars with a sizzling hot intensity.

Daughter of the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Clyde Copeland, Shemekia was schooled in his Texas-style blues. But her experiences growing up on the streets of Harlem have infused her music with a deeply personal touch that remains decidedly accessible.

Following the release of her debut album, Turn the Heat Up, Copeland began receiving a long list of accolades from critics and fans alike. The Village Voice called Shemekias voice nothing short of uncanny, while Living Blues referred to it as pure, beautifully unaffected and powerful. Further praise and recognition greeted her 2000 follow-up, Wicked. A third album, Talking to Strangers, was released in September 2002.